The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-16


"Tarantular'
No other word was spoken. Darby knew
what meant the drop or two of greenish
viscous liquid which the Italian once OF
twice erected from his lips, each time re,
turning in mad haste to his task of peril
Darbys bride knew, too, what signifed
Bardlnelli's desperate earnestness, as well
as she comprehended the threatening OF
danger herself in the vertigo and shivering
already creeping over her. But neither OF
these thought of the risk Bardinelli was
hazardiug: Bardinelli himself did not give
a thought to the matter till the possible re.
suits of the daring came to him in a flash o!
consciousness. An eager glance, convinc
ing him of the fact that the poison was be
ing abated in the veins of his whilom pupil
revealed to him, besides, fleck of blood
close to the puncture in the dainty hand
over which he had been gloating. The blood
he knew, was from wound in his own lin
His strong teeth had nearly met through it
as he lay in hiding there beyond the fern
mound.
But the virus that was creeping from her
veins into his was as the wine of life to him
in comparison with the venom of jealousy
that had maddened him as he lay there
watching the welded lovers reveling in
their stolen bliss.
at is DONE" he said, presently, lifting 9
flushed face from his odd work. 'There re
mains, Sig. Darby, but the drop of poison
taken up by the blood before could get t.
her.
THE drop or two taken up by the blood
Heaven of mercy, is there no antidote?"
''There is one, butthat may be impossible
Speak, man! there must be no impossible
here" /
There shall be no impossible, signor, if
Bardinell's strength faint not" the Italian
quietly said; ''for tarantism, in ny land,
there are the tarantella dances"
Il know remember" cried Derby. sit
is music, music she must have; and you
you Bardinelli-"
Il know the music-yes. Whenthe poison
works in her brain and nerves shewill move;
and II will play the death darce for her.
Come, Sig. Darby, let me carry her; l can
best place her so that the faintet notes may
stir her numbed senses"
Half frantic with agony DLrby made no
protest, but yielded her to the Italian. Was
not the priceless life at his mercy? Had he
asked for the heart in his bosom he would
not have wished to say him ray. Fragile Of
build though he was, Bardnelli caught up
che lovely burden surrenOered to him and
bore her. with the strength and speed of an
athlete, back to the glare and languorous
perfumes of the ball room.
Her life is mine, her life is minel" he
muttered, in his half delirous JOY, as he felt
the pulsations Of his heartanswering to the
wild throbbing of the poiSon-charged arte-
ries of his breast.
Awe-stricken the wedding jewellers
cleared the floor Of the dance hall. There
were rapid questionings and agitated re-
plies, there were groans here and there and
sobs half repressed. Then there was a
silence as of the sepulcher in the garish
house. Through this silence stole the first
weird notes of Bardinell's Dance of Death.
No one looked at the musician; every eye
was fastened on the bride. She lay upon
the wine-velvet of the divan, white and
rigid; about her trailed the satin and lace
and orange flowers of her bridal attire.
Bardinelli's violin was giving forth quick
err strains. So fantastic were the chords,
now plaintive and imploring, now full of a
mad energy, anon dropping into fathomless
depths of pathos, it seemed as though the
player were improvising the airs, telling to
the still figure upon the couch the tale OF a
life noble in it's dreams and aspirations,
drous harmony dropped ever, clear and
pure as a shower of pearls, the notes of the
Rhythmic tarantella waltz.
The call to movement reached the locked
senses of the dreamer. She moved; she
arose to her feet; she glided over the floor
Her movements were as rhythmic as
were the strains of Bardinellis violin
they were those of the Graces. Her face
was the frozen one of the doomed Iphigenia
Upon the silence of the room the Italians
melody wrought like magic. The wedding
guests swayed hither and thither in gro
tesque mimicry of the dream dancer upon
the polished floor. Tho breeze of the night
waited the mystical strains out through the
open easements, and bore them past won
dering wayfarers upward to the empyrean
to sweep the confines of other realms OF
mystery.
Bardinelli was lending all the cunning of
his hand to rouse the suspended faculties Of
his beloved pupil. The heavy lids vailing
| her vision were slowly raised; surrounding
objects were once more photographed upon
the retina of the eye; the tinge of life was
| returning to lip and cheek; her movements
had less of grace and more of energy. 1t
were as though the shackles of flesh were
being again riveted upon the free move
ment of the spirit. The statue had walked
to life, though another than Pygmaior
should reap the kisses of those divnely
parted lips.
Louder and louder swelled the waltz meo-
dies of the forgotten music. One who
| casually glanced toward him saw that he
was contorted, and that the veins in his
forehead were purple cords, tensely drawn
So might have looked the LAGOON wrestling
in the folds Of the sea monster.
Not the less surely, however, was the mas
ter hand informed of the genius of a death
less WILL and the observer, unknowing
turned again to mark the effects of his
! power upon her, who, like Eurydice, was
being lured back from the world of mystery
and Swallowed by his Orphic entertainments
Suddenly she stood still The throng of
spectators gazed at her. Their united
breath would not have stirred the down Of
a thistle puff. Her white bosom rose ana
fell. The orange-blossoms looping her
corsage trembled like sentient creatures
filled with a passion of joy in her living
warmth and loneliness. Her eyes roveC
anxiously over the eXpectant assemblage
She was looking for some one For whom
She smiled a dazzling smile of recognition
and joyously stretched forth her arms. Hel
bridegroom hurried to meet and take hei
into his embrace.
For the first time there was discord in
| the music No one noticed it, There was